Chapter 3
Galadon
Returning to my territory always filled me with relief. I hated being away from it for any longer than necessary, feeling the pull every time I left. My mother—Ujala—still hadn’t revealed why she chose this section of land except that it was more fertile than other places to help me survive on my own. She wasn’t wrong, but I knew there was more she hadn’t explained. In this place, my powers increased considerably compared to anywhere else.
I soared along my border, making a full circle of the fifteen-by-thirty-mile section. It was heavily warded to prevent illicit entry, but I’d been far enough away in Oklahoma that I might not have felt the alarm signal. Powerful enough forces could have broken it. Though no matter my location, I should have felt any significant rupture. I still liked to reassure myself that everything was well. With Kandoran still roaming the region, one could never be too careful since they’d proven crafty. Losing their primary leadership hadn’t resulted in the remaining members being harmless.
After I finished my circuit and found no disturbances to the wards, I headed toward the central point of my lands. The ground was verdant and green from spring growth, with trees sprouting fresh leaves, wildflowers growing, and small animals scurrying through the brush.
Pride filled me at how my land thrived—better than anywhere else.
I sailed down to the landing pad near my home. In the early years of my living here, enemies broke my wards multiple times. My mother hadn’t remained to keep them fueled, and I proved clumsy at reconstructing them in my youth. As a result, I built multiple “lairs” above and below ground so that my attackers couldn’t find my resting place easily. I maintained them over the centuries and added more out of an abundance of caution. Every so often, I would change which one I used to further confuse anyone who might make it this far. A dragon who lived alone could never be too paranoid regarding their safety.
I walked toward the newest structure assembled with gray bunker stones I’d repurposed after the Kandoran war last fall. The sloped roof home contained a bedroom, sitting area, and kitchen. I didn’t use it, but my mother insisted on a proper home for herself. She didn’t care for the Faegud preference of living in underground burrows. I found her in the back, turning a spit in the massive fireplace I’d built for her, wearing a midnight blue tunic and black pants.
As with any shifter who hadn’t reached their final century of life, Ujala still appeared young despite being almost seven centuries old. She had a sturdy build, yet she seemed softer than I remembered from my childhood, and there were faint lines at the side of her black-slitted amber eyes. Her long, wavy black hair hung loose down her back as she tended the sizzling meat. We shared a similar dark beige skin tone from our regular time in the sun. Both of us enjoyed being outdoors whenever the weather permitted, and there was always much to do on my land.
“It smells good,” I said, stopping at the kitchen entryway.
“Galadon!” She smiled and started to move toward me for an embrace before remembering to stop herself, aware it made me uncomfortable. “I can always cook a fine meal when you give me one of your sheep or cows.”
I had a fair amount of cattle on my land and did all I could to increase their numbers. My territory had always thrived enough to support life even when in Kederrawien. Not much had flourished there, but I’d done my best to cultivate what plant life existed and used it to attract animals.
“I do not like slaughtering more than we truly need,” I answered gruffly.
Also, I used any surplus as trade to other territories for things I needed. While I could manage some things on my own, I could not forge weapons or make clothes. That first winter as a child, when I was on my own, I had to remain in dragon form for two months because I’d outgrown my garments and had no way to acquire new ones. That had been before I garnered allies or formed trade relations with others. My mother had been so rushed to leave that she hadn’t considered such things before abandoning me.
Ujala nodded. “I understand.”
The guilt in her eyes said she knew I wouldn’t change my ways just because we’d returned to Earth and finally had a toriq —clan—that could assist me if needed. I’d craved belonging among my kind for centuries when I bargained my way into the Faegud. Yet still, I’d lived alone too long to ever rely on others for much.
“I take it nothing eventful occurred in my absence?”
“No.” She shook her head. “It was as quiet as ever.”
Ujala had been staying here for over five months. Though I continued to begrudge my mother’s reasons for leaving me at a young age, I had built a tenuous relationship with her since her return. We often ate and went on walks together when the weather allowed it. There were periods during the coldest months when I’d hardly seen her, though, since neither of us desired venturing into the heavy snow. As a result, our time to bond had been limited until the land finally warmed again.
I moved to the small worktable in the middle of the kitchen, taking a slice of freshly baked bread. “It may not stay quiet once the truce lifts in a couple of weeks.”
My mother lifted a brow. “Speaking of trouble, did you have any difficulties while you were away? I didn’t expect you to be gone for a full week.”
“Between Texas and Oklahoma, I tracked down about a dozen human Kandoran and a handful of dragons. Most of them are scattered, but there is a large group a short distance north of the chasm,” I said, then took a bite of the bread. Though the Taugud shifter’s fortress baked the best rolls, Ujala’s loaf slices came in a close second for flavor and texture.
“Hmmm.” She sat back on her stool. “Did you see anyone else while you were out there?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Do you mean if I saw the slayer?”
Ujala’s lips twitched. “Yes, Rayna. I wouldn’t mind seeing her again.”
“I cannot imagine why.” I crossed my arms. “Her primary objective in life is to kill our kind, so it’s best we stay far away from her.”
We would definitely be ignoring the fact I’d sought her out like a fool.
“Did she try to attack you?” my mother asked with feigned concern.
Her nakedness at the lake had certainly assaulted my mind and body with want, but I knew that’s not what she meant. “No, but she’d just killed a few Kandoran dragons and was sated for the moment.”
Ujala sighed. “You should trust her and give her a chance.”
“I’m not discussing this with you again.”
After having multiple arguments with her in the first weeks after she moved onto my land, I’d told my mother the subject was off limits, or she could go live at the Faegud jakhal —a sort of capital for a dragon clan. With her being a powerful healer, she’d always be welcome there. I couldn’t fathom why she had been enamored with the slayer since their first meeting.
Her shoulders slumped. “Of course.”
“How long until the meat is ready?” I asked.
“Perhaps half an hour,” she said, then her eyes widened. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that Lorcan came by yesterday. He wants you to see him as soon as you can about the bitkal.”
Ah, yes. It was almost time to decide the next pendragon after Hildegard—their previous leader—who’d died in the war. Her final wish had been for the elders to rule the Faegud until spring, when they’d begin the process of choosing the next dragon to take over the toriq. I wished I could stay out of it altogether, but I was considered the most powerful shifter, and my presence would be required whether I liked it or not.
I nodded. “I’ll fly up there after dinner.”
Best to get it over with so I could spend tomorrow refortifying my wards and tending my land. I had been gone longer than I liked, but I’d wanted to hunt down a fair amount of Kandoran before returning. They’d proven elusive other than the large group I couldn’t battle myself. That would be a problem for another time.
“You won’t try to compete, will you?” my mother asked, frowning.
“No.” Though I was surprised she didn’t encourage it. “I’m not interested.”
Relief filled her features. “Good. Your first duty must always be to this land. Short trips away are fine, but if you become pendragon, you’d have to live up there. It would ruin everything.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She drew a deep breath. “It’s still not time for that yet, son, but I’ll tell you when it is.”
Always the same answer with her. I wanted to argue but decided it wasn’t worth the effort. As a seer myself—though only for the near-future—I understood revelations required precise timing. If one got it wrong, it could destroy everything. Whatever kept her silent, though, it better be worth it.